You don’t have to be a hippie or take a camping trip to take a green vacation; all it takes is a few minor changes. Consider these tips for your summer vacation:

Choose carbon-neutral transportation for an eco-friendly journey. In other words, skip the airplane and take the train instead; an airplane emits 244 kg of C02 on a 3 1/2 hour flight, but a train only emits 22 kg of C02 in 2 3/4 hours.

When you visit a large city, buy bus passes rather than renting a car to reduce carbon emissions. Not having to navigate a foreign city will save you a lot of trouble and stress, too.

Choose your lodging based on whether they save water, energy and reduce waste, such as hotels that ask guests to voluntarily reuse sheets and towels. Don’t use the complimentary soaps and shampoos, and turn off the air conditioning and TV when you leave your room.

Indulge in eco-tourism: Book rooms in independent, non-chain lodging, eat at locally-owned restaurants and buy souvenirs made by local artists.

Consider a volunteer vacation. Look up a foundation for your favorite cause (or a new green one). Some organizations offer volunteer programs for popular species. For example, you could help track sea turtle hatchings, something not possible if you were simply a tourist.